The Jets are looking pretty bad right now as they have lost their last two games by a combined score of 74-33!  Now they are going to need a win over the Dolphins and losses by the Bengals, Titans and either the Broncos or Raiders to get into the playoffs.  That is a lot of luck needed.  The Dolphins have won 5 of their last 8 games as they have been playing well lately.  The Jets beat the Dolphins 24-6 in New Jersey earlier this year.  Here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Jets have the ball:  The Jets are likely going to come out throwing the ball against a Dolphins’ D that is allowing 249.8 yards passing per game so far this year.  The Jets are going to have to protect Mark Sanchez for this to work and they are also going to need him to make good decisions with the football.  Dustin Keller, Plaxico Burress and Santonio Holmes are going to have to step up if the Jets are going to win this game.  The Dolphins are only giving up 93.4 yards yards rushing per game and 3.6 yards per carry so far this year, so Shonn Greene is going to have to fight for every yard he gets.  Watch for LaDainian Tomlinson to be the Jets’ secret weapon both running and catching the ball out of the backfield this Sunday.

When the Dolphins have the ball:  The Jets’ front seven is going to have to be ready to deal with the Dolphins’ running game.  Reggie Bush (1,086 yards rushing) and Daniel Thomas (553 yards rushing) are going to be a big time challenge for the Jets to stop as they are giving up 113.0 yards rushing per game and 4.0 yards per carry so far this year.  The Jets are going to have to get after QB Matt Moore as he has been a very efficient game manager type of QB so far this season.  Moore has a decent set of WRs and TEs to throw to, so the Jets’ secondary will need to step up in this game.

PREDICTION:  DOLPHINS 23, JETS 20

The New York Jets will be sending a trio of players to the Pro Bowl.  26-year old CB Darrelle Revis will be a starter for the AFC.  He has played in 15 games for the Jets so far this year and he has 51 tackles, 19 passes defensed, 4 interceptions (184 total return yards with 1 TD return) and 1 tackle for a loss.  28-year old OT D’Brickashaw Ferguson and 27-year old center Nick Mangold will be going to Hawaii as reserves.  Ferguson has played in 15 games (all starts) for the Jets this year, while center Nick Mangold has played in 13 games (all starts) so far this season.

Jets’ head coach Rex Ryan was writing checks his players couldn’t cash last weekend.  Mark Sanchez completed 30 of 59 passes for 258 yards with 1 TD pass and 2 INTs.  He also carried the ball 4 times for 13 yards (3.3 ypc) with 1 TD run and he also lost a fumble.  Shonn Greene led the way on the ground for the Jets with 58 yards rushing on 14 carries (4.5 ypc) and he also caught 3 passes for 20 yards.  LaDainian Tomlinson pitched in with 5 carries for 29 yards (5.8 ypc) and he also caught 6 passes for 36 yards.  TE Dustin Keller led the way in the passing game for the Jets with 8 grabs for 77 yards.  WR Santonio Holmes (4 rec, 50 yards), WR Jeremy Kerley (5 rec, 36 yards) and TE Josh Baker (1 rec, 5 yards, TD) also had decent games for the Jets.  The Jets finished up with 105 yards rushing on 25 carries (4.2 ypc) and they also completed 30 of 59 passes (50.8%) for 226 yards as they had possession of the ball for 36:06.

The defense didn’t look too good as they gave up too many big plays in this game.  LB Bart Scott (6 tackles), DE Muhammad Wilkerson (5 tackles, 1 sack, 2 tackles for a loss and 1 QB hit) and LB David Harris (4 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss, 1 sack, 1 pass defensed, 1 QB hit and 1 interception) led the way for the Jets on D.  The Giants finished up with 115 yards rushing on 26 carries (4.4 ypc) and they also completed 9 of 27 passes (33.3%) for 217 yards.  The Jets are now 8-7 on the year.

The Jets and Giants both really need this game if they are going to make it to the playoffs in 2011.  The Jets are the designated home team, so they should have more fans than the Giants.  The Jets have won three of their last four games despite getting thumped 45-19 by the Eagles in Philly last weekend.  The Giants got pushed around at home by the Redskins last weekend, 23-10.  The Giants have lost five of their last six games now.  Here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Jets have the ball:  The Jets are going to come out running the ball with Shonn Greene against a Giants’ D that is giving up 127.6 yards rushing per game and 4.5 yards per carry so far this year.  If the Jets establish the running game, it will make things easier for Mark Sanchez off playaction.  The Giants have an outstanding pass rush, led by DE Jason Pierre-Paul and his 13 sacks, so Sanchez is going to have to get rid of the ball quickly in this game.  Plaxico Burress, Dustin Keller and Santonio Holmes are going to have mis-matches down the field against a Giants’ secondary that has been getting shredded lately.

When the Giants have the ball:  The Jets’ front seven is going to have to tighten up the chinstraps, because Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw are likely to get a lot of work tomorrow.  The Jets are going to have to get after Eli Manning tomorrow, because he has a knack for making big throws down the field when he has time to throw the ball.  It’s going to hurt him to be without TE Jake Ballard and WR Mario Manningham tomorrow.  The Jets are going to lock CBs Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie on Hakeem Nicks and Victor Cruz….and those are going to be matchups to watch in this game.

PREDICTION:  JETS 21, GIANTS 20

The New York Jets got whacked hard by the Eagles in Philly yesterday.  Mark Sanchez had a rough game as he completed 15 of 26 passes for 150 yards with 2 TD passes and 2 INTs.  Mark Brunell finished up this game at QB and he completed 1 of 3 passes for 27 yards.  Shonn Greene led the way on the ground for the Jets in this game with 73 yards rushing on 18 carries (4.1 ypc).  LaDainian Tomlinson pitched in with 9 yards rushing on 3 carries (3.0 ypc) and he also caught 4 passes for 12 yards (3.0 avg) in this game.  TE Dustin Keller (3 rec, 73 yards), WR Santonio Holmes (4 rec, 40 yards and a TD catch) and Plaxico Burress (1 rec, 9 yards, TD) helped out the Jets in the passing game.  But, Santonio Holmes lost a fumble that was returned 47 yards for a TD by DE Juqua Parker of the Eagles.  The Jets finished up with 94 yards rushing on 27 carries (3.5 ypc) and they also completed 16 of 29 passes (55.2%) for 147 yards as they had possession of the ball for 29:57.

The defense was also awful for the Jets yesterday.  LB David Harris (7 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss, 1 pass defensed and 1 interception), DE Muhammad Wilkerson (6 tackles, 3 tackles for a loss and 1 sack) and OLB Calvin Pace (6 tackles) led the way for the Jets on D in this game.  Safety Brodney Pool (fumble recovery) and CB Ellis Lankster (2 fumble recoveries) also made big plays for the Jets.  The Eagles finished up with 160 yards rushing on 33 carries (4.8 ypc) and they also completed 15 of 22 passes (68.2%) for 260 yards.  The Jets are now 8-5 on the season after this punishing loss.

The New York Jets have won three games in a row as they are rolling right now.  This is a big game for the Jets as long as the playoff picture is concerned.  The Eagles looked pretty good in beating the Dolphins 26-10 in Miami last weekend.  They will try to be a spoiler for the Jets tomorrow in Philly.  Here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Jets have the ball:  The Jets offensive is starting to look the way Coach Ryan wants it to.  So look for the Jets to ride RB Shonn Greene hard in the game tomorrow against a Eagles’ D that is giving up 115.1 yards rushing and 4.4 yards per carry.  The Jets need to run the ball well to set up playaction passes for Mark Sanchez.  Sanchez will try to get the ball down the field to WRs Santonio Holmes, Plaxico Burress and TE Dustin Keller….but it won’t be easy if the DBs play up to their ability tomorrow.  The Jets must also find a way to keep the Eagles’ out of their backfield and that won’t be easy as the Eagles already have 42 sacks so far this year.

When the Eagles have the ball:  Michael Vick came back from his broken ribs last weekend, but he didn’t venture out of the pocket much.  RB Lesean McCoy will be the main man in the running game but the Jets have tightened up as of late against the run as they are only giving up 3.9 yards per carry so far this year.  The Jets have the best secondary in the NFL, so Michael Vick is going to have to be careful throwing the ball.  The Eagles would be smart to attack the safeties by throwing the ball a lot to TE Brent Celek.

PREDICTION:  JETS 21, EAGLES 20

25-year old QB Mark Sanchez has been really efficient the last three weeks, leading the Jets to 99 combined points in those games!  He has completed 49 of 88 passes (55.7%) for 526 yards with 7 TD passes and 1 INT.  He has now played in 13 games for the Jets so far this year and he has completed 242 of 426 passes (56.8%) for 2,859 yards with 21 TD passes and 11 INTs (83.1 QB Rating).  He has also carried the ball 30 times for 85 yards (2.8 ypc) with 5 TD runs.  Sanchez is starting to really improve his decision making lately and it’s leading to Jets’ wins.

The Jets have signed 27-year old safety Gerald Alexander.  Alexander played in 2 games earlier this year for the Dolphins but he didn’t have any tackles.  Alexander has now played in 41 games in his first five years in the NFL and he has 159 tackles, 14 passes defensed, 4 interceptions, 2 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, 4 fumble recoveries and 1 tackle for a loss.  This was a smart move for the Jets, as they need help at safety with Jim Leonhard done for the year.

The Jets have lost 29-year old safety Jim Leonhard for the rest of the year due to a torn right patella tendon in his knee.  Leonhard played in 13 games for the Jets this year and he has 48 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery, 6 passes defensed and 1 interception.  He has now played in 40 games in his first three years with the Jets and he has 185 tackles, 8 tackles for a loss, 2.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries, 15 passes defensed and 3 interceptions.  This injury is going to hurt the Jets, big time.

The Jets absolutely punished the Chiefs yesterday!  Mark Sanchez was very efficient as he completed 13 of 21 passes for 189 yards with 2 TD passes and 0 INTs.  He also carried the ball 2 times for 4 yards (2.0 ypc) with 2 TD runs.  Shonn Greene led the way on the ground for the Jets in this game with 129 yards rushing on 24 carries (5.4 ypc) with 1 TD run.  He also caught 3 passes for 58 yards (19.3 avg) yesterday.  LaDainian Tomlinson pitched in with 14 yards rushing on 9 carries (1.6 ypc) and he also caught 2 passes for 50 yards (25.0 avg) with 1 TD grab.  TE Dustin Keller (4 rec, 34 yards) and WR Santonio Holmes (2 rec, 12 yards, TD) also helped out for the Jets on offense in this game.  The Jets finished up with 159 yards rushing on 42 carries (3.8 ypc) and they also completed 13 of 21 passes (61.9%) for 155 yards as they had possession of the ball for 37:42.

The Jets were awesome defensively yesterday, PERIOD!  LB David Harris (6 tackles, 1 sack and 1 QB hit), DE Muhammad Wilkerson (5 tackles) and saftey Eric Smith (5 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss, 1 sack and 1 QB hit) led the way for the Jets on D in this game.  OLB Calvin Pace also had a very solid game with 4 tackles, 2 tackles for a loss, 1/2 a sack, 1 pass defensed and 1 QB hit.  Safety Jim Leonhard (interception) and DT Sione Pouha (tackled RB Jackie Battle in the end zone for a safety) also made big plays for the Jets on D.  The Chiefs finished up with 65 yards rushing on 21 carries (3.1 ypc) and they also completed 16 of 32 passes (50%) for 156 yards in this game.  The Jets are now 8-5 on the season.